Ice cube tray



T. J. MRTQN, JR., ET AL.

ICE CUBE TRAY Filed March ll, 3.938

,fag

INVENTORS.

Patenteel Apr.. 29 Sill-l HQE @WEEE TRAY indiana Application March ll,1938, Serial No. 195,354

(Ci. (i2-138.5)

3 iliaims.

Our invention relates to trays for use in freeing ice-cubes in domesticrefrigerators, and especially to a novel form of grid dividing such atray into a plurality of individual mold-compartments. It is the objectof our invention to produce a tray and grid assembly of simple andeconomical construction from which the ice can readily be removed. Afurther object oi our invention is to produce a device oi this kindwhich can be operated to free the ice cubes from the grid progressivelyso that unwanted cubes may be returned with the grid into the tray withthe ice-bonds between them and the tray unbroken.

In carrying out our invention, we employ a grid made of intersectinglongitudinal and transverse partitions which, in the aggregate, serve todivide the interior of the tray into a plurality oi mold-compartmentsarranged in parallel rows. In the preferred iorm of the device, a singlelongitudinal partition is employed disposed at the center of the tray.This longitudinal partition and the transverse partitions are formedwith complementary openings or slots so that the transverse partitionsmay extend through the plane of the longitudinal partition from one sideof the tray to the other. Near one end each of the transverse partitionsis arranged to be engaged by a lifting element through which there maybe applied to the partition an upwardly directed force tending to freeit from the tray. Because this force is applied eccentrically relativeto the grid as a whole, the ice bonds between the tray and all the icecubes are readily broken and the ice bonds adjacent the partition towhich the lifting effort has been applied are likewise broken.

The accompanying drawing illustrates our invention: Fig. 1 is a planview of an ice-cube Ytray with our improved grid in place therein; Fig.2 is a side elevation oi' the tray with a portion of the side wallbroken away; Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section on the line il-liof Fia. l; Figs. t and 5 are iragmental side elevations illustrating twodifferent means for lifting the grid shown in Figs. 1 to 3; and Fig. 6is a transverse section through a tray embodying a modiiied form ofgrid, and shows means for lifting that modiiied form of grid.

The tray it shown in the drawing is formed with -a bottom and with sideand end walls r which slope upwardly and outwardly. Within the tray,there is disposed a grid composed oi a plurality of transversepartitions il and a longi- 'tudinal partition to which such transversepartitions are attached. Conveniently, the longitudinal partitioncomprises upper and lower parts i2 and it disposed in co-planarrelationship and extending through central rectangular holes in thetransverse partitions li. The partition-part i3 is provided in its loweredge with a series of notches of a Width approximating the thickness ofthe transverse partitions il. In assembling the grid, the part i3 of thelongitudinal partition is passed through the slots in the transversepartitions, such holes being just long enough to receive the part i3.After being placed upon the part i3, each transverse partition is alinedwith one of the notches therein and seated in such notch to bring itslower edge into co-l planar relationship with the lower edge of the partit. With all the transverse ^partitions so disposed, the upper part i2oi the longitudinal partition is inserted through the holes of thetransverse partitions to ll such holes and prevent raising oi thetransverse partitions relative to ythe central partition. Afterassembly, the two parts i2 and i3 of the longitudinal partition aresecured in xed position relatively to each other as by crimping them onopposite sides of one or more oi the transverse partitions il in themanner indicated at tl. Thus an assembly is provided in which thetransverse and longitudinal partitions= are positively and permanentlyinterconnected.

As previously indicated, each of the transverse partitions li isarrangednear at least one end for the application to it of a liftingeffort. Conveniently, this is done by providing the respectivetransverse partitions along one side of the tray l@ with extensions lbwhich are bent over to provide horizontally extending ears, as is clearfrom Fig. 2. While this arrangement is preferred, there are obviouslynumerous other ways in which the transverse partitions could be adaptedat their ends for the application of a lifting eiiort.

Desirably, although not necessarily, the application of a lifting effortto any of the transverse partitions is accompanied by the application ofa downwardly directed force to an adjacent transverse partition. -Asimple lever, such as illustrated at it in Fig. 4, may be employed forthis purpose. In freeing the ice cubes from the tray by the use of thelever it, that lever is fulcrumed upon the top edge of the endtransverse partition ll with its inner end disposed beneath the ear l5on the adjacent transverserpartition. Upon the application of a downwardforce to the outer end of the lever it, the end transverse partitionwill be forced downwardly and the adjacent one to it will be forcedupwardly. Since these forces are applied near one side of the grid, theyresult in a tendency to warp the grid as well as the two transversepartitions which the lever engages. lAs a result of this action, the icebonds between the tray'and all the ice cubes will be broken as will alsothe ice bonds between the grid and the two pairs of ice cubes at the endof the tray. If these two pairs or cubes are all that is desired at thetime, they may be removed from the grid, and the tray and grid may bereplaced in the refrigerator with. the remaining ice cubes undisturbed.If more than the four cubes at the end of the tray are desired, thelever i5 is moved so that its inner end will engage the ear l5 on thethird transverse partition, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. d;whereupon the application of a downward force to the outer end of thelever will free the third pair of cubes. This operation can be continuedthroughout the length of the grid to free all the cubes progressively.

As ice is relatively inelastic, only slight movements are required tobreak the ice bonds. Be-

cause of this, the deformation of the grid which results from operationof the lever IS may be relatively slight and well within the limitswhich would result in permanent deformation of the grid.

Instead of employing the movable lever i6 to yapply a lifting effort 'tothe ears I5, 'the construction illustrated in Fig. 5 may be used. Here,a stationary lifting member His mounted on some convenient support suchas a wall or lthe door of the refrigerator, such member being providedwith an outwardly projecting longitudinal flange I8. This flange may beused as an equivalent of or substitute for the lever l 6 abovedescribed, the operator holding the tray, engaging the ears l5progressively with ythe end of the ange I 8, and by tipping the trayapplying a lifting effort to the transverse parti-tion engaged with theend of the flange i8.

In the modification of our invention illustrated in Fig. 6, thetransverse partitions ii are provided with ears i@ which are co-planarwith the respective partitions and which project outwardly laterally of.the tray. A grid so constructed may be freed from the tray through theuse of a gridliftlng member, such as that indicated at 2i in Fig. 6,which engages beneath one of the ears it and reacts on the side wall ofthe tray.

We claim. as our invention:

i. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinalpartition and e. plurality of transverse partitions intersecting andrigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from oneside of said tray 'to the other, corresponding ends of said transversepartitions being provided at their upper edges with horizontallyextending ears, and e. lever adapted to rest upon the top of any of suchtransverse partitions and to engage beneath the ear of an adjacent4transverse partition.

2. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinalpartition and a plurality of transverse partitions intersecting andrigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from oneside of said tray to the other, and means for applying oppositelydirected vertical forces to corresponding ends of adjacent transversepartitions, each of said transverse parti- .tions having near one endprovisions co-operating r with said means in the application of saidforces.

3. In combination, an ice-cube tray, a grid having a longitudinalpartition and a plurality of .transverse partitions intersecting andrigidly secured to said longitudinal partition and extending from oneside of said Itray to the other, and means reacting downwardly on one ofsaid transverse partitions near an end thereof for applying a, liftingeffort tothe corresponding end of an adjacent transverse partition, eachof said transverse partitions having near one end provisionsco-opera'ting with said means in the application of said lifting eiort.

THOMAS J. MORTON, JR. CHARLES A. BAUER.

